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Weekly Updates

March 12, 2010: Weekly Washington Update

When Congress first met, legislators rode on horseback for days to reach Washington, and received stacks of mail from constituents back home. Today, the travel is must faster (it only takes me a couple of hours from Montross to DC) but the mail remains a large part of the job. I receive thousands of emails, phone calls, tweets, faxes, and letters each week. These are just a few of the mediums I use to keep in touch with First District citizens.  

I also host telephone based town halls to hear directly from you when Congressional business keeps me from being at a physical town hall meeting. I held two such calls this past week calling folks in the upper and lower portions of the district. Often these elicit questions as varied as the callers themselves. Although I received questions ranging from social security, to veterans benefits, to illegal immigration, the vast majority were questions about the crushing debt load our government carries, and the potential affects of the health care reform bill before Congress. 

In fact, during the two calls I polled each group of participants using the exact same two questions: 

1. Do you think Congress should scrap the current healthcare bill and start over with a blank sheet of paper? 

Upper District 

YES – 83%

NO – 10%

UNDECIDED – 7% 

 

Lower District 

YES – 72%

NO – 19%

UNDECIDED – 9% 

 

2. What is the number one thing you think Congress should be doing to help the economy? 

Upper District 

Lower Taxes – 37%

Expand Government Programs – 3%

Pay Down the Debt – 60% 

 

Lower District 

Lower Taxes – 46%

Expand Government Programs – 8%

Pay Down the Debt – 46% 


I want you to know that this latest call is confirmation of what I’ve been hearing over the past year of the 111th Congress: healthcare reform needs to be accomplished, but it should be on points we can all agree on, and in the process we must stop the endless spending and debt that our government has become addicted to.  

I hear you all loud and clear, and I want to continue to receive your feedback on the issues before Congress. Hearing directly from you is what allows me to serve you best. My office is available for answering legislative questions, aiding your interaction with government agencies, setting up tours in Washington, D.C., providing internships for college students and recent graduates, and securing social security and veterans benefits.  

Please feel free to visit my newly redesigned website: www.wittman.house.gov or call my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-4261 for further information. You can also sign up on my website to always be on our call list for future tele-town halls. I look forward to hearing from you.

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He was elected to his first full term in November 2008 and serves on the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services Committee where he is the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.